Convertible table



1948- N. P. SCHREINER 2,446,491

CONVERTIBLE TABLE Filed April 27, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 TIW T I' 5 Sheets-Sheet 2' N. P. SCHREINER 3 CONVERTIBLE TABLE Aug. 3, 1948.

Filed April 27., 1944 Aug. 3, 1948. N. P. SCHREINER CONVERTIBLE TABLE Filed April 27, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 5' i 9 arm mus N. P. SCHREINER CONVERTIBLE TABLE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Tn'vznT [1r Aug. 3, 1948.

Filed April 27, 19.44

v i 5 a. F? 5 T/VETIESS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 CONVERTIBLE TABLE N. P. SCHREINER Aug. 3, 1948.

Filed April 27, 1944 Patented Aug. 3, 1948 I UNIT-ED OFFICE V CONVERTIBLE TABLE NorvaLPISchreiner, Springfield, Mo.

Application 'April 'zdi 1944; S'rialNi'). 5333345 6 Claims (Cl. 3113) This invention 1 relates to convertibleistables; l:

vention to provideza'piecetzioffzfurniture which,

normally comprises'a smalLl but highly desirable article of great" utility; :such a532, ikneea-hel'ezdesk,

and which can easily: and:quickly' bez-converted into a dining table of liber-alsproportionsn One of the :objectsmf: my inventionxisitdprovide; a convertible piec'e'of this character which s: capable of conversion into a table of any-=-';of1-"sev.-'- eral degrees of expansion. 1J0?- accommodate'athe particular needat hand=,zincludingl=;sa size-suitable: for use as a breakfast: table: orlicardtablei A further obj act-is to provide 'a' device of this A character in which the:portions servingias sup-n ports or legs may be optionally 'dis'posed in yard-- ous positionswith respect to -the table top s0 that an arrangement of these par-ts maybe made which willprovide -m'a'ximum seating spa-ce and comfort to the particularnumberofipersons. to be seated.

An additional object of the presentinvention is to provide a convertible diningtable which In the accomplishment ofthese objects I have provided 'fo'ur -pedestals which serve-as legs -orz supporting columns'ior the table top an-d which may be equipped with drawers; the--pedestals -or drawer cabinets being: arranged in' twopairs each pair comprising-airont and a rear pedestal which are interconnected by slide "meanswhich" permit them to he -positioned" in juxtaposed Jor spaced relation. Thewimain tabl'e topis divided: into front and rears-sections,:eachsofi: :whichds;

provided with: longitudinal slidetguid'e meansz';

Each of 'thezfrontand rear:pedestalscarrytranse: verse slide guide means; Combinatibnsslidess comprising longitudinal: and; transverse :slides in crossed lorcright angled: relation, are adapted .to

slide- .eithers'longitudinally'of the table topporl transversely of-thepedestals, whereby-the indie; vidu'al pedestals :mayibe:movedzforwardlyior rear-.

wardly.-- with respect eto'zeachr other; or, in :respect to; either, frontior; rearsltablewtop "sections and the" pairs: of:;pedestals imam-be;- movedlongitudinally oftthe .tablertop: By,v this arrangementof pedestals; slides and divided mainytable topthepedestals maybe arranged-invarious;combinations and the table top" sections maydoespaced transversely togaccommodate:additional leaves,- p

A. foldingv topi'sectionw is hinged-to the-rear main top section and adapted to beeither iolded forwa-rdlyg'; insuperposed {relation ;,to:-1the -main top sections-when used as'a 'deskeor extendedrear wardly in; coplanar relation with "the main toptopsectiom extended coplananwith the main: topsections.--

Fig.., 2 isa top views-partly in fragmentarysection,- showing the pedestals fully separated transversely and with-the. table top fully. ex.-

tended and two auxiliary leavesinsertd Fig. 3 is .an: end viewa corresponding with Fig;

Z'With respect to positioning of the parts. i

Fig. 4 is; a fragmentary; end. view-showing the device .completelycontracted and withthe folding topsection disposed ontopofthe maintable top sections.

Fig. 5 is'a frontnview showingthe, device as' a knee-holeldeskl" I Fig; 6 is a .front view showing. the, device} ex tended and withthe pairs of pedestals 1mOl/ed together longitudinallylj Figs. 7 to 11, inclusively are diagrammatic top views: showing; th'e device in various positions of extension and indicating inidotted lines the corresponding positions of" the pedestals and mayable slide imembers as: follows:

Fig: -7 shows the-'dev-icewith the pairs of ped estals-moved rearwardly with respect-to the table" top 'as thefirst stage of extension.

Fig? 8- shows the device-with the pedestals po sitioned as in "Fig": 7 "and with the folding table top extended coplanarwvith thf' main-- table top sections to 'f'orm a small'break-fast-or card tabl'e suitable for two people1= Fig-L 9 shows I an extensionof the table similar to "that shown' in Fig; 8 'but with the pant er pedestals: moved together: longitudinally-to p'ro vide. aismall'table'iwith acompact central-support; I

Fig. 10 ShOWSilihBtEibl' with the pedestals separated longitudinally as in Fig. 8 and also sepa- Cross tie members 34 connect the free ends of the slide members 1 and ID as well as 8 and i2 and provide stop means for limiting the transverse movement of the slides II and I3. Stop members 35 (Figs. 2 and 13) secured to the under sides of the slide members 1 and 8 and moving within slots 36 in the intermediate movable Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a crossed tie member adapted to connect transverse and longi tudinal slide members.

Fig. 13 is a cross sectional View of a number of transverse slide members showing the relation of slides 9 provide stop means for restricting the movement of the latter by abuttal relation with the .ends3'l of the slots 36. The arrangement of these stops and abbutal means is such that when the table is fully extended the stops will the slides and stop members adapted to limit the g movement of the slides.

The reference characters throughout the several views represent similar parts.

With particular reference to Figs. 1 and 2, i, 2, 3 and 4 represent the supporting pedestals, of which land 2 at least are equipped with drawers, 5. Near the top of each pedestal is a platform 6 above which is provided space for receiving the system of transverse slides of which the ones indicated at l are secured to the platforms of the front pedestals, while those indicated at 8 are attached to the platforms of the rear pedestals. Movable slides 9 interconnect the members 1 and B and provide means for relative transverse movement between the front and rear pedestals. Outwardly of the members I and in spaced relation thereto the members (9 are secured to the front pedestals and slides H are movably engaged between the members 1 and i9. inwardly of members 8 and in spaced relation thereto the members [2 are secured to the rear pedestals and slides l3 are adapted to move forwardly and rearwardly between members 8 andv l2. In right angled relation to the movable slides H and rigidly attached thereto are longitudinal slides M which are adapted to slide longitudinally between the slide guides i5 and I6 carried by the front section of the table top H. Similarly attached to the movable slides l3 are longitudinal slides l8 which are movably engaged between the iongitudinal guide members l9 and 29 secured to the rear section 2! of the table top.

In order to maintain a rigid right-angled relation between the transverse slides I1 and i3 and their associated longitudinal slides i4 and I8 respectively, I have provided metal braces having crossed transverse and longitudinal arms 22 and 23 respectively which are rigidly secured together at '25 (Fig. 12), preferably by welding.

Dovetailed inserts 26 are utilized as intercom necting. means between transverse slide member while rectangular inserts 21 carried by the longitudinal slides move within corresponding ways in the longitudinal slide guides.

Articulated with the rear section 2| of the main table top by suitable flush hinges 28 is a folding top section 29 which is adapted to be folded forwardly on top of the main top sections when the device is used as a desk (Figs. 4 and 5) or extended coplanar with the main table top sections when used as a table (Figs. 1, 2 and 3). Conventional means such as pegs 30 in association with holes 3| (Fig. 2) provide means of maintaining alignment of abutting edges of table top members, including extra table top leaves.

All of the pedestals are provided with wall members 32 which extend above the side panels and provide supports upon which the table top members rest. Also secured to the outer side panels of the rear pedestals are extensions 33 which form supports for the top members associated therewith.

prevent further movement of the intermediate slides 9 upon their associated members and so position the slides 9 that the upwardly projecting posts 38 attached thereto will be positioned midway between the inner edges of the main table top members whereby the posts will provide supports for the abutting edges of two auxiliary leaves 39 and 40 (Figs. 2 and 3).

A front or middle drawer 4| is supported by suitablev slide means upon the pendant guide members 4'2 attached to the front section of the table top. When the device is closed to form a desk (Fig. 5) the middle drawer moves rearwardly with the top to occupy a position between the pedestals and upon moving the front top section forwardly the middle drawer is positioned forwardly of the pedestals whereby the latter may be moved longitudinally inward (Fig. 6).

In order to limit the outward longitudinal movement of the pedestals I have provided stop members 43 across the ends of the longitudinal slide guides against which the slides l4 and I8 abut when the pedestals are fully extended longitudinally.

Pendant members 44 carried by the front section of the table and corresponding in vertical dimensions with the rear members 33 provide a means of closing the space above'the outer side panels of the front pedestals when the device is closed as a desk (Fig. 4).

If desired, the rear pedestals may be equipped with drawers 45 (Figs. 3 and 4) similar to the drawers 5 in the front pedestals. In this manner the piece may be used as a double desk and its utility extended.

Figs. 7 to 11 inclusively show diagrammatically various positions and stages of expansion adapted to be assumed by my invention in which the pedestals, crossed slides and middle drawer are indicated in dotted lines.

In operation, to convert the device froma closed condition as a desk to a table, the first step is to move the table top sections (still folded) forwardly with relation to the pedestals (Fig. 7). Thismaybe accomplished by pulling the pairs of pedestals rearwardly, one at a time; The pairs of pedestals may then be moved together longitudinally at this stage if desired and the hinged top section extended to form a square breakfast or card table with the pedestals grouped in the center of the table as in Fig. 9, from which position it may be extended transversely by separating the front and rear top sections (together with the front and rear pedestals) to accommodate either one or two extra leaves (Fig. 11). With the two pairs of pedestals moved together as in Figs. 9 and 11 the entire periphery of the table is provided with unobstructed space below the table top for the convenience of persons sitting at the table, whereby four people may comfortably be seated at the small table (Fig. 9) or a large number may be seated at the fully extended table (Fig. 11)."

In the event only two people are to use the table the conversion to a small square table is made directly after moving the pedestals rearwardly by simpl unfolding the hinged top section as in Fig. 8.

If a larger table than that shown in Fig. 9 is desired but to be occupied by only four persons, the square table of Fig. 9 may merely be extended transversely to accommodate a single extra leaf as in Fig. 10 whereby space is provided between the front and rear pedestals to accommodate persons sitting at the right and left of the table, thus making a conversion suitable for such a group without moving the pedestals longitudinally.

While I have shown a table with an extension suificient to accommodate two extra leaves, it is to be noted that provision for further extension may be made by introducing additional transverse slides similar to and associated with slides 9.

I claim:

1. A convertible table comprising a main table top having front and rear top sections; a folding top section hinged to the rear of said rear top section and adapted to be folded in superposed relation to said main sections or disposed in coplanar relation therewith; rear longitudinal slide guide means carried by said rear top section; front longitudinal slide guide means carried by said front top section; supporting means for said table top sections comprising two pairs of pedestals, each pair of said pedestals comprising a front and rear pedestal; each pair of pedestals having interconnecting slide means adapting the front and rear pedestals thereof to be optionally disposed in juxtaposed or spaced relation; rear transverse slide guides carried by the rear pedestals of each of said pair of pedestals; rear transverse slides movably supported by said rear transverse guides and adapted to move transversely of the tab-1e; front transverse slide guides carried by the front pedestals of each pair of said pedestals; front transverse slides movably supported by said front transverse guides and adapted to move transversely of the table; rear longitudinal slides carried by said rear transverse slides and ada ted to move longitudinally of said rear longitudinal slide guide means and front longitudinal slides carried by said front transverse slides and adapted to move longitudinally of said front longitudinal slide guide means.

2. A convertible table comprising a rear top section; a front top section; a folding top section hinged to the rear of said rear top section; two pairs of pedestals for supporting the top sections, each pair of pedestals comprising a front and a rear pedestal; transverse slide means for interconnecting the front and rear pedestals of each of said pairs of pedestals and adapting said front and rear pedestals to be disposed in either juxtaposed or spaced transverse relation; transverse slides movable forwardly and rearwardly with respect to said pedestals and longitudinal slides arried by said transverse slides and movable longitudinally with respect to said top sections.

3. A convertible table having a front main top section; a rear main top section; a folding top section articulated with the rear main top section; supporting means for said top sections comprising four pedestals, said pedestals being arranged in right and left hand pairs of front and rear pedestals; interconnecting slide means carried by each pair of pedestals for providing relative transverse movement between the front and rear pedestals thereof; rear transverse slide guide means carried by the rear pedestals of each pair; front transverse slide guide means carried by the front pedestals of each pair; rear longitudinal slide guide means carried by the rear main top section; front longitudinal slide guide means carried by the front main top section; right and left rear transverse slides movably supported by said rear transverse guide means; right and left front transverse slides movably supported by said front transverse slide guide means; right and left rear longitudinal slides carried by said right and left rear transverse slides respectively and adapted to move longitudinally within said rear longitudinal slide guide means and right and left front longitudinal slides carried by said right and left front transverse slides respectively and adapted to move longitudinally within said front longitudinal slide guide means.

4. A convertible table comprising a front top section; a rear top section; a folding top section hinged at the rear of said rear top section; four pedestals for supporting said top sections; transverse slide means interconnecting said pedestals with said top sections and adapting the pedestals to be moved transversely of said top sections and longitudinal slide means interconnecting said pedestals with said top sections and adapting the pedestals to be moved longitudinally of said top sections.

5. A convertible table comprising a front top section; a rear top section; a folding top section hinged at the rear of said rear top section and adapted to be disposed coplanar with said other sections or folded in superposed relation thereto; four pedestals for supporting said top sections and slide means interconnecting said top sections with said pedestals and adapting the pedestals to be moved either transversely or longitudinally of said top sections.

6. An extension table comprising a divided table top; two pairs of supporting members; slide means interconnecting the members of each pair of supporting members and adapting the members to be disposed in juxtaposed or spaced transverse relation; transverse slide means interconnecting the supporting members and the top members and adapting the supporting members to be moved transversely of said top members and longitudinal slide means interconnecting the top members and the pairs of supporting members and adapting the pairs of supporting members to be moved longitudinally of said top members.

NORVAL P. SCHREINER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 101,545 Tilton Apr. 5, 1870 343,307 Goldbach June 8, 1886 745,115 Petersen Nov. 24, 1903 1,086,800 Albano Feb. 10, 1914 1,776,551 Cooley Sept. 23, 1930 2,301,563 McFall Nov. 10, 1942 

